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Summer Berry Tiramisu Pots using Le Creuset Stoneware Petite Casseroles

The Italian meaning of ‘tiramisu’ means a pick-me-up. This version, made with summer berries and lemon in place of the traditional coffee and chocolate is guaranteed to make you feel uplifted on a warm sunny day.   Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 2-3 minutes Serves 4   9cm Stoneware Petite Casserole   INGREDIENTS For the berry compote 150g mixed redcurrants and blackcurrants 75g blueberries 2 tablespoons caster sugar Juice of 1 small lemon (approximately 3 tablespoons) Juice of 1 orange (approximately 3 tablespoons) 200g fresh raspberries For the mascarpone cream 250g tub mascarpone cheese 2 tablespoons caster sugar Finely grated zest of 1 small lemon 3 tablespoons Greek-style natural yoghurt To assemble 16 sponge fingers Icing sugar, for dusting 4 small fresh mint sprigs, to decorate INSTRUCTIONS For the compote, put 100g of the mixed redcurrants and blackcurrants plus 50g of the blueberries into a small pan with the sugar, lemon juice and orange juice. Place over a medium heat and leave to heat through gently, swirling the pan now and then, until the sugar dissolves and the berries just burst and release all their juices. Stir in 150g of the raspberries and then tip the mixture into a sieve set over a shallow dish to collect all the syrup. Beat the mascarpone, sugar and lemon zest together in a bowl until smooth and then stir in the yoghurt. Dip the sponge fingers one at a time into the warm berry syrup, leave them to soften slightly and then use them to line the base of 4 petite casseroles, cutting them where necessary to fit. Spoon one-quarter of the berry mixture into each pot and then cover with the mascarpone cream. Reserve the remaining berry syrup for later. Mix the remaining berries together, use them to decorate the top of each pot and chill for 1 hour. Drizzle with the remaining syrup, then dust with a little icing sugar and decorate with the mint sprigs just before serving. Cook's Notes For a slightly more adult version of this pudding, use 2 tablespoons of limoncello in place of the lemon juice.  


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We are hiring!

We are currently seeking a Partime Retail Sales Assistant to join our team. Computer and till experience an advantage but not essential. Please drop your current C.V. into the store or email info@barkers.ie We will be contacting applicants for interviews in the coming days.


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Vogue Magazine’s Top Ten Decorating Trends to look for in 2017

When it comes to home décor, 2016 was the year of everything from woven wall hangings to Scandinavian-inspired interiors. And as the year winds down, soon enough your thoughts will most likely wander to a home refresh. So it’s worth exploring the top decorating trends that will likely be on repeat in homes across the country—and possibly in your own abode. We checked in with three interior designers—Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, Young Huh, and Beth Diana Smith—for their 2017 decorating forecast and some easy pointers on how to make them your own. These trends are chic, inspiring, and (fortunately) don’t require a complete room overhaul. Green According to celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard, who counts Kendall Jenner among his list of clients, green is “strong again.” From lime green to emerald, the hue works throughout the home—whether it’s as a wall color or a room-filling rug. If you’re not too keen on the idea of using green in large doses, Lawrence-Bullard has a suggestion: “Add really fun emerald glasses to your regular white plates and suddenly you’ve got that up-to-the minute look.” Tropical Prints It’s no secret that interior design takes cues from the runways, and this year, we’ve seen the likes of Marc Jacobs, Prada, and Emanuel Ungaro experiment with all things tropical. The print will continue to appear in wallpaper and designer fabrics, according to Lawrence-Bullard. But don’t worry if such in-your-face prints are out of character for you. He suggests throw pillows boasting the trendy pattern: “Always buy a plain sofa and change it up with new pillows,” Lawrence-Bullard advises. “It’s just like buying a great piece of classic clothing. You can certainly refresh it with a new bag and shoes.” Texture Weaving texture into an interior makes it more inviting and the idea of mixing fabrics and materials will be on the rise. “Texture is really important,” says Lawrence-Bullard. “We are seeing more and more texture in every form, from brushed brass tables to light fixtures to fabrics and wallpapers.” A quick way to test the trend: Drape a nubby wool throw over a leather chair or mix fabrics used for decorative pillows. Marble and Brass Combinations Young Huh, who was named one of Vogue’s five young interior designers on the rise in 2015, promises marble and brass will continue to dominate in 2017. “We’re going to see this trend in both kitchens and baths,” Huh explains. “It’s that combination of something very natural and clean, like white marble, and something industrial, hard, and a little bit glamorous with the brass.” Muted Colors Does the thought of bold colors anywhere in your home make you feel a tinge of anxiety? Don’t fret—it’s all about neutrals in the year ahead. “Whites, beiges, pale grays, camel, and blush pink are super on-trend,” Huh says. Geometrics Your goal should always be to create a home that feels curated, and an easy way to accomplish this is through pattern. “We’ll see inventive geometrics that speak to ancient cultures, whether it is African or Asian patterns, but they’ll be modernized,” Huh says. Think simple lines, geometric designs, and triangles, Huh explains. Quirky Lighting Think of lighting as an accessory for your home—it’s the perfect way to show off your unique design sensibility. “A quirky lighting fixture looks great in a dining room,” Huh says. “It’s a great space to go for it and do something unusual.” Also consider sprucing up your bedside lamps with something truly memorable. Artisan-Crafted Furniture For New Jersey–based interior designer Beth Diana Smith, the new year will include an emphasis on uniquely crafted furniture. “People will be going back to furniture that is more of an investment—furniture that is very well-made,” Smith says. She recommends antique shopping for pieces that will add character to your home and browsing sites like Chairish. Gray Gray was a prominent color in 2016 interiors and it will continue to reign in 2017. “We will see different tones of gray, a lot of gray and white, and gray in deeper colors,” Smith says. It’s the sort of color that complements a full spectrum of shades, from bold red to mellow ivory. Bronze Smith promises that 2017 will bring loads of bronze—a metal that warms up any space. “It’s a lot more classic in a sense,” she says, as it complements a myriad of decorating styles. “I like it in lighting and accessories, whether it be vases, lamps, or decorative bowls for the kitchen,” Smith says.


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Chocolate Love Heart Cake Recipe for Valentine’s Day

Chocolate Love Heart Cake   Ingredients: 50g cocoa Powder 6 Table spoons of boiling water 100g Butter Spread or soft butter 275g Caster sugar 3 eggs, beaten 125ml of Milk 175g Self-raising Flour 1 tea Spoon of baking Powder   To Decorate – Chocolate Sauce   50g Butter 2 Table Spoons of Golden Syrup 100g drinking Chocolate   Method: 1.Pre Heat the Oven to 180 Degrees C or Gas mark 4. Grease a 30 x 20cm baking Tray, line the base with greaseproof paper Put the cocoa into a bowl and stir in the boiling water, until it is smooth. Add the butter to the cocoa and beat until; smooth, then add the sugar. eggs, milk, flour and baking powder, mix until well combined. This can be done with a Kenwood mixer or by hand. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, bake in the oven for 30\35 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire tray and peel off the greaseproof paper. Leave to cool completely. Decorate with Chocolate Sauce To make the Chocolate Sauce: Put Butter and Golden Syrup into a saucepan over a gentle heat. When butter has dissolved add in the drinking chocolate until it is well conbined. Pour over the Chocolate cake            


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Spend v’s Save for your dining table this Valentine’s

Pic no 1:  Geo Tumbler - €50 each John Rocha Signature Wine Glass €60 each John Rocha Signature Champagne Glass €60 each Bombay Duck Cake Stand €49 Bombay Duck Teapot €42.99 Bombay Duck Sugar Bowl €18.99 Bombay Duck Jug €18.99 Bombay Duck Teacup and Saucer €26.50 Viners Cutlery Harley Design €3.00 Lene Bjerre Candlesticks €8.50 Pip Dinner Plate €13.99 Pip Salad Plate €11.99 Pip Soup Plate €11.99 Pip Side Plate €8.99 Pic no 2 : Newbridge Cutlery Kings Pattern €3.00 each Denby Linen Dinner Plate €14.10 each Denby Linen Salad Plate €10.80 each Denby Linen Bowl €13.50 each Lene Bjerre Candlesticks €8.50 each Denby Monsoon Flutes was €25.00 now €12.49 pair.  


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We are hiring!

We are currently seeking two enthusiastic vibrant people to join our team, on a Flexi-partime basis. Please drop your current C.V. into the store or email info@barkers.ie We will be contacting applicants for interviews in the coming days.


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Bake with Barkers!

As part of the Wexford Food & Wine Festival we have our “Bake with Barkers” event taking place in-store this Saturday, May 23rd from 1-5pm! Dorothy will be baking fabulous scones and confectionery so please call in store for a taste and recipes to take home! 1. White Chocolate & Raspberry Cheesecake 2. Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake 3. Mini Muffins- Bloody Mary 4. Mini Muffins- Honeycomb crunch 5. English Scones


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An apple a day keeps the doctor away!

The Eddingtons Apple Peeler.... There is an old adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” While it sounds like an old and trite saying, the fact is that apples are one of the healthiest foods that you can eat. Eating just a single apple a day has some very far reaching health benefits. The problems is that quite often we don’t want to spend the time necessary to peel and prep the apple or we don’t have the time during the course of the day. Make it easier for yourself with the loopy apple peeler, easy enough that a child can, and will, use it. Recent research into multiple body systems indicates that there is virtually no part of the body which does not benefit from the consumption of apples. In studies in Brazil and the Mayo Clinic— apples have been proven to reduce the incidence of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. Some of the flavonoids and micronutrients are found in no other food tested so far. What that means to you is that making apples a part of your daily diet has some very positive health benefits. Click here to buy online  


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Icing & Piping!

Put the final touches to your cakes and treats in decorative style with this Kitchen Craft Icing Syringe Set. Wtih a selection of six nozzles for creating a variety of decorative effects, create a selection of different patterns on your delicious cake creations. The advantage of the syringe type icing set is that it allows the user more control in creating small detail in cake decorating and the shape of the utensil means it is easy to operate and easy to refill with little mess. This icing syringe set really does add a professional finishing touch to your cakes, biscuits and treats. Click here to buy online  


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Potato Ricer versus Potato Masher

We all love creamy smooth mashed potatoes so what's the best way to get them? We put two tools to the test, the potato ricer and the potato masher - here are our thoughts! Potato Ricer: The potato ricer is used to make very smooth creamy mashed potato - exactly like you'd expect from a restaurant. It can also be used for mashing most root vegetables and as a fruit press. This extrusion tool forces cooked potato through small holes, resulting in rice-like pieces of potato. It has two long handles, one with a perforated basket at the end, the other with a flat surface that fits into the basket. The food is placed in the basket, then the flat surface is pushed down into the basket by pressing the handles together, forcing the food through the holes. Because air is incorporated into the potato as it’s pressed, this tool gives you the lightest mashed potatoes possible. A ricer guarantees no lumps, and your potatoes will be very smooth. The only downside is that it can be a bit time-consuming but worth it for the results! Potato Masher: The potato masher effortlessly rices, mashes or whips all root vegetables and potatoes and it's also suitable for jam making. The handle is designed to alleviate wrist and hand strain. Hand mashers get bad press for leaving lumps, but we found that they can deliver smooth, creamy potatoes. You just have to be methodical with your mashing method, getting into every corner of the pot and using a press and twist motion with the masher, adding a little liquid at a time. It's important to make sure your potatoes are thoroughly cooked!   Result: For really light,  fluffy mashed potato, the ricer is the way to go!        


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